MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

This week marked the beginning of civilian Defense Department employee furloughs, which are the result of Congress’ failure to replace the arbitrary and untargeted spending cuts known as the sequester. These furloughs undermine their ability to support our war-fighters and impede our ability to recruit and retain the qualified federal workforce our nation needs and expects. I share the frustration of our civilian defense workers who support installations across the country, and will continue to strongly advocate for a bipartisan solution that will stop the sequester and end these unnecessary and unfair furloughs.

Ending the sequester will require that House Republican leadership appoint conferees so that we can finish our work on a budget and negotiate a balanced and bipartisan solution to our deficits. It has been over 100 days since the Senate passed their budget, yet House Republicans refuse to work towards a final budget that sets responsible spending levels. Instead, Republicans are passing appropriations billsat the extreme Ryan-Republican budget levels. This week, Republicans passed a partisan Energy and Water Appropriations bill that makes drastic cuts to energy research, renewable energy, energy efficiency programs and water infrastructure projects. Congress should be supporting these programs, rather than making it more difficult for our nation to achieve greater energy independence and security.

Yesterday, I was disappointed that House Republicans passed a partisan farm bill that did not include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides critical nutrition assistance for low-income families. This 600 page bill, which no one had a chance to read and is dead-on-arrival in the Senate, exemplified Republicans’ refusal to compromise and work toward common-sense bipartisan solutions. I voted against this legislation, and hope that Republicans will abandon their partisan stance and work with Democrats on a bipartisan farm bill that our nation’s farmers, agriculture industry, and families need.

With three weeks remaining until the August district work period, I am dedicated to finding bipartisan solutions to the many challenges facing our nation, including a responsible solution to our deficits, ending the doubling of student loan interest rates, and passing comprehensive immigration reform. One of the best ways you can get updates about what is happening in Congress is to “like” my page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhipHoyer) and follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/WhipHoyer). I encourage you to join in the conversation online as I continue to advance legislation that helps American families.

Sincerely yours,

STENY H. HOYER

P.S. Please invite your friends and family to sign up for this newsletter to learn about what House Democrats are doing to lead America in a new direction. You can also get the latest updates and join the conversation on my Facebook and twitter accounts.